EP4443232A1 - Hexagonal housing traffic monitoring device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a traffic monitoring device (100) with a housing (110) for monitoring at least one partial area (210) of a road (200); wherein the housing (110) has at least one interior space (120); wherein at least one image recording device (7) is arranged in the interior space (120); wherein the housing (110) has at least one transparent area (8) for each image recording device (7); wherein the housing (110) is designed at least partially along a largely vertical axis (Z); wherein the image recording device (7) is arranged in the housing (110) behind the transparent area (8) in such a way that the at least one partial area (210) of the road (200) can be detected by means of the image recording device (7); wherein a largely horizontal plane (XY) is perpendicular to the vertical axis (Z); wherein the housing (110) has a hexagonal cross-section (HQ) at least in the largely horizontal plane (XY).

Description

technical field

The invention relates to a traffic monitoring device with a hexagonal housing.

State of the art

A traffic monitoring device monitors the traffic on a road. The traffic monitoring device is located on a side of a road or on a central strip of a road.

A road generally has one or more carriageways, each with one or more lanes. Vehicles drive on the road in a direction determined by the carriageway. A road is, for example, a country road with two carriageways in opposite directions, each with one lane. A road is, for example, also a motorway with two carriageways in opposite directions, each with several lanes. A road always has two side edges and can have a middle strip that is not used as a carriageway. A middle strip, or median strip for short, often has a structural separation of the carriageways.

A traffic monitoring device has a housing. An image recording device, for example a camera, a camera with a flashlight or similar, is usually arranged inside the housing. The traffic monitoring device is designed to record at least a partial area of the road using the image recording device. The housing usually has a transparent area. The image recording device is arranged inside in such a way that the part of the road can be captured through the transparent area using the image recording device.

The traffic monitoring device is arranged next to the road on the side of the road or on the central reservation. The image recording device has an image recording direction that is normally arranged largely perpendicular to the transparent area. The transparent area is permeable to visible light and to light in the near infrared range. The image recording direction is set up to record a vehicle largely in or against its direction of movement on the road. The vehicle is thus recorded in a frontal or rear view. The image recording direction is therefore usually arranged at a flat angle of less than 30° to the direction of movement of vehicles on the lane.

A traffic monitoring device can have several image recording devices. These can record different parts of a road.

Traffic monitoring devices are often designed along a vertical axis in the form of a column, which has a rectangular cross-section in the horizontal plane. The housing therefore has four walls, with at least one of the walls having the transparent area. If the image recording device is arranged in a rectangular housing, one wall is aligned with the roadway in such a way that the image recording direction forms a flat angle less than 30° to the direction of movement of vehicles on the directional lane. If two image recording devices are to be arranged in the housing, for example to capture a front view of a vehicle on a directional lane with a first image recording device, as well as a rear view of a vehicle on the same directional lane, the wall cannot be arranged at a shallow angle. The wall and respective transparent areas are usually arranged at an angle of 45° to the road, with the respective image recording direction no longer being normal to the transparent area. The space inside the housing is also not ideally usable, particularly when two image recording devices are arranged which are to capture the front and rear views of a vehicle on the same directional lane. A rectangular housing is therefore disadvantageous for the optical detection of vehicles by a traffic monitoring device.

Traffic monitoring devices are also known which have a round cross-section in the horizontal plane. The wall of the housing is cylindrical. A transparent area can now also have the shape of a cylinder jacket part. Transparent areas curved in this way are, however, comparatively expensive to manufacture compared to transparent areas in the form of flat panes. In addition, the bending of the transparent material can lead to distortions in the captured image due to different refractive indices of air/transparent material. If, on the other hand, a flat transparent area is inserted into a curved cylinder jacket, the different shape creates edges and steps in the wall. This is disadvantageous because Objects lying on the edge can affect the detection range of the image recording device. Examples of disruptive objects are leaves, objects that have been deliberately placed there or birds sitting on the edge. This is disadvantageous for the optical detection of vehicles.

The object of the invention is to improve a housing of a traffic monitoring device so that the disadvantages mentioned are reduced. A further object is to manufacture the traffic monitoring device as economically as possible.

representation of the invention

The problem is solved by the features of the independent claims.

The invention relates to a traffic monitoring device with a housing for monitoring at least one partial area of a road. The housing has at least one interior space. Electronic devices, cables, etc. can be arranged in the interior space. The housing protects the interior space from external influences, for example moisture, rain, dust, etc. At least one image recording device is arranged in the interior space. The housing has at least one transparent area for each image recording device. The housing is designed at least partially along a largely vertical axis. The image recording device is arranged in the housing behind the transparent area in such a way that the at least one partial area of the road can be captured by means of the image recording device. An image recording device is, for example, a camera which can be seen through the transparent area, for example a pane of glass or a transparent plastic disc. A largely horizontal plane extends perpendicular to the vertical axis.

According to the invention, the housing has a hexagonal cross-section at least in the largely horizontal plane.

A hexagonal cross-section is advantageous because the housing does not have any largely round areas, which would require a transparent area with a corresponding round shape. In addition, in contrast to a housing with a rectangular cross-section, the housing has more sides which are arranged at different angles to one another. There are therefore more options for aligning the image recording device with a transparent area arranged in the housing, compared to a rectangular housing.

Unless otherwise stated, transparent is always understood to mean permeability for electromagnetic waves in at least a 10 nm (nanometer) wide wavelength band in the visible wavelength range between 400 nm and 780 nm and/or in the near infrared range IR-A between 780 nm and 1400 nm, whereby at least 25% of the incident electromagnetic radiation must be transmitted.

The transparent area can also have an optical band filter. In this case, only wavelengths from one or more optical wavelength ranges are transmitted. The transparent area preferably has a red filter, which allows red light above 600 nm and longer wavelength light to pass through.

The hexagonal cross-section has a first side, a second side, a third side, a fourth side, a fifth side, and a sixth side. Any two sides are arranged largely parallel to each other.

The housing has at least six walls, which are largely vertical. The first side lies in the plane of a first wall. The second side lies in the plane of a second wall. The third side lies in the plane of a third wall. The fourth side lies in the plane of a fourth wall. The fifth side lies in the plane of a fifth wall. The sixth side lies in the plane of a sixth wall.

The first wall and the second wall and the third wall and the fourth wall and the fifth wall and the sixth wall are at least partially parallel to the vertical axis.

The first wall is advantageously designed to be completely opaque. The fourth wall is designed to be completely opaque. The first side is aligned largely parallel to the fourth side. The traffic monitoring device is designed to detect vehicles on a section of a road. As already explained, the front and/or the rear of the vehicle are detected. If the traffic monitoring device is arranged between two anti-parallel lanes, a maximum of two image recording devices are arranged in the interior for each lane. Therefore, in any case, there are at least two sides or two walls of the housing in which no image recording device is arranged. These at least two walls are advantageously opaque in order to minimize light entering the interior of the housing, which could lead to interference with the image recording devices arranged in the interior of the housing, for example due to unwanted scattering of the incident light in the interior.

The housing advantageously has between one and four transparent areas. An image recording device is arranged in the interior for each transparent area. Each of the image recording devices is arranged in the housing behind the respective transparent area in such a way that each image recording device is set up to record a partial area of the road.

One transparent area is advantageously arranged in each of the second walls or third walls or fifth walls or sixth walls. Transparent areas are thus arranged in a maximum of four walls, each with an image recording device. With exactly four transparent areas, the traffic monitoring device would be able to record two sub-areas for two opposing lanes, one sub-area for recording the front of a vehicle driving in the direction of the traffic monitoring device and one sub-area for recording the rear of a vehicle moving away from the traffic monitoring device.

The transparent area is advantageously arranged parallel to the plane of the wall. The distance of the transparent area from the plane of the wall is between -50 mm and 50 mm. A transparent area is usually a flat pane of glass or a plastic pane. These are often inserted into a frame in a wall. The frame can include a spacing between the wall and the transparent area perpendicular to the plane of the wall. Advantageously, however, the distance is less than 50 mm in the direction of the interior. Displacements in the direction of the interior are described with negative numbers, so a distance of -50 mm describes a distance in the direction of the interior. This avoids an edge or a ledge on which dirt can accumulate. It is also avoided that wild animals settle on the ledge. Advantageously, the distance is also less than 50 mm in the opposite direction to the interior. Such a distance does not lead to a ledge where objects on the ledge could obscure the transparent area. However, it is known that birds often settle on ledges and leave droppings from the edge of the ledge when they leave. This can also lead to contamination of the transparent area. Therefore, distances between the wall and the transparent area must be chosen between -50 mm and 50 mm in order to avoid the described impairments.

At least one detection device is advantageously arranged in the housing for each image recording device. The detection device is set up to determine a speed of a vehicle in the respective section of the road.

The housing advantageously has a detection area for each detection device. The detection device is set up to detect a vehicle with at least one detection beam, for example electromagnetic radiation such as radar beams, optical radiation, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, sound waves in the audible range, infrasound or ultrasound. The detection area is permeable to the detection beam. The detection area is advantageously arranged in the same wall as the transparent area for the respective image recording device. In this way, an image can be automatically captured when the detection beam has detected a vehicle. The speed of a vehicle can also advantageously be detected by means of the detection device. An image can also be automatically captured in this case when the speed of a vehicle exceeds a speed limit.

A detection beam is the beam that is directed from the vehicle to the traffic monitoring system. With an active detection device, a scanning beam is emitted by the detection device. A passive detection device detects radiation emitted by the vehicle or the environment.

Examples of passive detection devices that do not have a scanning beam are stereo cameras or contrast sensors. The vehicle is illuminated by ambient lighting, such as the sun or street lighting.

Examples of active detection devices with a scanning beam are ultrasonic rangefinders or laser rangefinders (also known as LiDAR), in which a sound or a laser beam is emitted, reflected from the vehicle and the reflected beam is detected again, or TOF cameras (time-of-flight cameras), in which the arrival time of the reflection of a defined emitted (monochromatic) flash of light on a vehicle is determined for each pixel of the camera and a distance is optionally calculated using the light's travel time. Radar antennas are also known which actively emit microwaves and detect waves reflected from the vehicle.

Each image recording device has an image recording direction. Advantageously, the image recording direction in the horizontal plane of the hexagonal cross-section is largely perpendicular to the respective transparent area. This has the advantage that reflections on the transparent area are avoided, which could distort the captured image.

The hexagonal cross section has a first angle, a second angle, a third angle, a fourth angle, a fifth angle, and a sixth angle. The second side and the third side form the second angle. The fifth side and the sixth side form the fifth angle. The first side and the second side form the first angle. The third side and the fourth side form the third angle. The fourth side and the fifth side form the fourth angle. The sixth side and the first side form the first angle.

A longitudinal axis advantageously bisects the second angle. The second angle thus determines the orientation the second side to the longitudinal axis. The second angle also determines the alignment of the third side to the longitudinal axis. This is advantageous because it allows the same alignment of two sides to opposing lanes, with the front of the vehicle being recorded on one lane and the rear of the vehicle being recorded on the other lane. This is advantageous, for example, in a setup where the fifth and sixth sides are placed close to buildings or similar.

Advantageously, the longitudinal axis halves the fifth angle. The fifth angle thus determines the alignment of the sixth side to the longitudinal axis. The fifth angle thus also determines the alignment of the fifth side to the longitudinal axis. This is advantageous because it allows two sides to be aligned identically with opposing lanes, with the front of the vehicle being detected on one lane and the rear of the vehicle being detected on the other lane. However, it is also conceivable that when the fifth and sixth sides are placed close to buildings or similar, the angle could be between 90° and 180°. The housing is therefore flat on the fifth and sixth sides and is therefore compact.

It is particularly advantageous if the second angle and the fifth angle are the same size. If two sides are parallel to each other, a hexagonal cross-section with six equal angles is created. This enables economical production, as the same angles are always machined. Processing machines do not have to be readjusted.

The hexagonal cross-section is particularly preferably designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis. This is the case when the longitudinal axis bisects both the second angle and the fifth angle and the second side and the third side are of equal length and the fifth side and the sixth side are of equal length.

Particularly preferably, both the second angle and the fifth angle have the same size and the hexagonal cross-section is designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis. Thus, all six angles have the same size and the second side, the third side, the fifth side and the sixth side have the same length. This simplifies production because many elements of the housing can be manufactured and/or processed in the same way, which leads to a reduction in manufacturing costs.

The horizontal plane is largely parallel to a road surface.

In a particularly economical embodiment of the traffic monitoring device, the hexagonal cross-section is a uniform hexagon. In a uniform hexagon, all six sides are the same length and all angles at the six corners are the same size. A uniform hexagon is also called a regular hexagon. Manufacturing is particularly economical, as the sides and angles are the same. Complicated settings for the manufacture of different housing parts are largely eliminated and assembly is simplified.

The traffic monitoring device described is advantageously arranged with respect to a road, where the road has at least one lane. For example, the lane is largely straight. The first side is largely parallel to the lane. Alternatively, the lane describes a curve and the first side is aligned tangentially to the lane.

The traffic monitoring device is arranged such that by adjusting the second angle the orientation of the first side and the second side with respect to the road is determined such that the image recording device can be aligned with the road.

Short description of the drawings

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Strasse mit einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 2

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Strasse mit einer weiteren Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 3

zeigt eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 4

zeigt eine schematische Schnittansicht einer weiteren Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 5

zeigt eine schematische Schnittansicht einer weiteren Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung nach dem Stand der Technik,

Fig. 6

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 7

zeigt eine weitere schematische perspektivische Ansicht einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 8

zeigt eine schematische Schnittansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 9

zeigt eine schematische Schnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 10

zeigt eine schematische Schnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 11

zeigt eine schematische Schnittansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 12

eine schematische Ansicht einer Strasse mit einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 13

zeigt eine weitere schematische Ansicht einer Strasse mit einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 14

zeigt eine weitere schematische Ansicht einer Strasse mit einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 15

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 16

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 17

zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung,

Fig. 18

zeigt eine weitere schematische Ansicht einer Strasse mit einer Verkehrsüberwachungseinrichtung.

In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of example with reference to the figures.

Fig. 1

shows a schematic view of a road with a traffic monitoring device according to the state of the art,

Fig. 2

shows a schematic view of a road with another traffic monitoring device according to the state of the art,

Fig. 3

shows a schematic sectional view of a traffic monitoring device according to the prior art,

Fig. 4

shows a schematic sectional view of another traffic monitoring device according to the prior art,

Fig. 5

shows a schematic sectional view of another traffic monitoring device according to the prior art,

Fig. 6

shows a schematic perspective view of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 7

shows another schematic perspective view of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 8

shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 9

shows a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 10

shows a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 11

shows a schematic sectional view of another embodiment of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 12

a schematic view of a road with a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 13

shows another schematic view of a road with a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 14

shows another schematic view of a road with a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 15

shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 16

shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 17

shows a schematic perspective view of another embodiment of a traffic monitoring device,

Fig. 18

shows another schematic view of a road with a traffic monitoring device.

Ways to carry out the invention

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a road 200 with a traffic monitoring device 100 according to the prior art in a top view on a horizontal plane XY. The road has a directional lane 210 with two lanes 240,240'. Two vehicles 220,220' are traveling at a speed V,V' in the direction of the directional lane. The traffic monitoring device 100 is shown in a top view on a horizontal plane XY and is arranged next to the road 200 on a shoulder 250. The housing 110 has a rectangular cross section Q. An image recording device 7 is arranged in the interior 120 of the housing 110, with an image recording direction B. The image recording direction B is set up to capture an image of a partial area 210 of the road 200. The image recording device 7 is aligned with the image recording direction B such that the front of the vehicle 220 can be detected in the partial area 210.

Fig. 2 also shows a schematic view of a road with a traffic monitoring device 100 according to the prior art in a plan view on a horizontal plane XY. The road is analogous to Fig. 1 The traffic monitoring device 100 is shown in plan view on a horizontal plane XY and is arranged next to the road 200 on a shoulder 250. The housing 110 has a rectangular cross section Q. Two image recording devices 7,7' are arranged in the interior 120 of the housing 110, each with an image recording direction B,B'. Each image recording direction B,B' is set up to record an image of a partial area 210,210' of the road 200. The image recording devices 7,7' are aligned with the respective image recording direction B,B' in such a way that the front of the vehicle 220 in the partial area 210 can be recorded with one image recording device 7 and the rear of the vehicle in the partial area 210' can be recorded with the other image recording device 7' when the vehicle reaches the partial area 210'. In comparison to Fig. 1 it can be seen that the alignment of the image recording device 7,7' is not possible at a flat angle to the lane 240 of the road 200. When the image recording direction B,B' is aligned perpendicularly to the respective transparent area 8,8' of the housing 110, only an angle of 45° to the road is possible due to the rectangular shape of the housing, which makes it difficult to record the front of the vehicle.

Fig. 3 shows the known traffic monitoring device 100 from Fig. 1 in detail. The housing 110 has a rectangular cross-section Q. The image recording device 7 is arranged in the interior 120 of the housing 110, with an image recording direction B. The image recording direction B is aligned perpendicular to the transparent region 8 of the housing 110.

In Fig. 4 an alternative embodiment of a traffic monitoring device 100 is shown in detail. The housing 110 has a rectangular cross-section Q. Two image recording devices 7, 7' are arranged in the interior 120 of the housing 110, each with an image recording direction B, B'. The image recording directions B, B' are not aligned perpendicular to the respective transparent area 8, 8' of the housing 110 in order to enable the image recording directions B, B' to be aligned at a flat angle to the roadway 240 (not shown) when the traffic monitoring device is arranged on the shoulder 250 (not shown). However, this is disadvantageous due to possible reflections on the transparent area 8, 8', as already described.

Another known design of a traffic monitoring device 100 is shown in Fig. 5 shown schematically in a sectional view along a horizontal plane XY. The housing 110 has a round cross-section Q. The transparent region 8 has the shape of a circular section. This is disadvantageous because the production of a round transparent region 8 is more expensive than the production of a planar transparent region 8. In addition, distortion of the image to be captured is likely due to the round shape of the transparent region 8.

A traffic monitoring device 100 according to the invention with a housing 110 for monitoring at least a partial area 210 of a road 200 is shown schematically in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shown. In the embodiment shown, the housing has four transparent areas 8,8',8",8‴ as an example. However, one transparent area 8, two transparent areas 8,8' or three transparent areas 8,8', 8'' are also conceivable. The housing 110 is at least partially designed along a largely vertical axis Z. A largely horizontal plane XY is perpendicular to the vertical axis Z.

According to the invention, the housing 110 has a hexagonal cross-section HQ at least in the largely horizontal plane XY.

The hexagonal cross-section HQ has a first side 1, a second side 2, a third side 3, a fourth side 4, a fifth side 5, and a sixth side 6. Two sides 1,4,3,5,3,6 are advantageously arranged largely parallel to one another.

The first side 1 is advantageously located in the plane of a first wall 11, as in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 shown. The second 2 side is advantageously located in the plane of a second wall 12. The third side 3 is advantageously located in the plane of a third wall 13. The fourth side 4 is advantageously located in the plane of a fourth wall 14. The fifth side 5 is advantageously located in the plane of a fifth wall 15. The sixth side 6 is advantageously located in the plane of a sixth wall 16. The first wall 11 and the second wall 12 and the third wall 13 and the fourth wall 14 and the fifth wall 15 and the sixth wall 16 are advantageously at least partially parallel to the vertical axis Z.

Preferably, the first wall 11 is designed to be completely opaque. Preferably, the fourth wall 14 is also designed to be completely opaque. An opaque wall has no transparent region 8,,8',8",8‴.

The hexagonal cross section HQ preferably has a first angle 31, a second angle 32, a third angle 33, a fourth angle 34, a fifth angle 35 and a sixth angle 36.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic representation of a traffic monitoring device 100 in a sectional view along the XY plane. The housing 110 has an interior space 120. In the embodiment shown, an image recording device 7 is arranged in the interior space 120 by way of example. In the embodiment shown, the housing 110 has a transparent region 8. The image recording device 7 has an image recording direction B. However, it is also possible for the traffic monitoring device 100 to have two image recording devices 7,7',7" each with a transparent region 8,8',8" or four image recording devices 7,7',7",7‴ each with a transparent region 8,8',8",8‴.

The housing 110 preferably has between one and four transparent areas 8,8',8'',8'''. In the interior 120, for each transparent area 8,8',8'',8''', a Image recording device 7,7',7",7‴ is arranged. Each of the image recording devices 7,7',7",7‴ is arranged in the housing 110 behind the respective transparent area 8,8',8",8‴ such that each image recording device 7,7',7",7‴ is set up to capture a partial area 210,210',210",210‴ of the road 200. One transparent area 8,8',8",8‴ is arranged in each of the second wall 12 or third wall 13 or fifth wall 15 or sixth wall 16.

In the housing 110, for each image recording device 7,7',7",7‴ in the embodiment of the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 at least one detection device 9,9',9",9‴ is arranged. The detection device 9,9',9",9‴ is set up to determine a speed V,V',V",V‴ of a vehicle 220,220',220",220‴ in the respective sub-area 210,210',210",210‴ of the road 200, as in Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 shown schematically.

The housing 110 has a detection area 10,10',10",10‴ for each detection device 9,9',9",9‴. The detection device 9,9',9",9‴ is designed to detect a vehicle with at least one detection beam (not shown).

In the following figures 8 to 13, the same reference symbols are used for the same elements.

Fig. 8 shows a schematic sectional view along the horizontal plane XY of an embodiment of a traffic monitoring device 100 with a hexagonal cross section HQ. The housing 110 has, for example, an image recording device 7 and a transparent area 8.

The Fig. 9 , Fig. 10, and Fig. 11 show alternative embodiments to the Fig. 8 The traffic monitoring device 100 has a housing 110 with a hexagonal cross section HQ. In the embodiments of the Fig. 8 to Fig. 11 The longitudinal axis X bisects the second angle 32. The longitudinal axis X also bisects the fifth angle 35.

In addition, in the embodiments of the traffic monitoring device 100, the hexagonal cross section HQ is designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis X. However, embodiments of the traffic monitoring device 100 are also conceivable in which, for example, the sixth side 6 and the second side 2 are longer, with the first side 1 being correspondingly shorter (not shown).

In the embodiments of the Fig. 8 , Fig. 10 and Fig. 11 the second angle 32 and the fifth angle 35 have the same size.

Fig. 9 shows a special embodiment in which the second angle 32 is particularly large between 90° and 180°, whereby the housing is particularly flat on the second side 2 and third side 3. Accordingly, two image recording devices 7,7' are arranged in the housing 110.

Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of a traffic monitoring device 100 with four image recording devices 7,7',7",7‴ with the associated transparent areas. The hexagonal cross section HQ forms a uniform hexagon.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of a traffic monitoring device 100 similar to that of Fig. 8 , wherein two image recording devices 7,7' are arranged in the housing 110.

Various arrangements of a traffic monitoring device 100 with respect to a road 200 are shown in the Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 The road 200 has several lanes 240, 240', 240", 240‴. The lane 240, 240', 240", 240‴ runs largely straight in the example shown. The first side 1 of the housing 110 is arranged largely parallel to the lane 240, 240', 240", 240‴.

Fig. 12 shows a schematic view of a road 200 with the traffic monitoring device 100 from Fig. 10 in a top view of the XY plane. Each image recording device 7,7',7",7‴ is arranged in the housing 110 behind the respective transparent area 8,8',8",8‴ such that at least a partial area 210,210',210",210‴ of the road 200 can be captured by means of the image recording device 7,7',7",7‴. The front of a vehicle 220' and the rear of another vehicle 220 on a lane 240', as well as the front of another vehicle 220'' and the rear of another vehicle 220‴ on another lane 240", can thus be captured.

Fig. 13 shows a schematic view of a road 200 with the traffic monitoring device 100 from Fig. 11 in a plan view of the XY plane. Each of the two image recording devices 7,7' is arranged in the housing 110 behind the respective transparent area 8,8', that at least a partial area 210,210',210",210‴ of the road 200 can be captured by means of the image recording device 7,7'. The front of a vehicle 220' and the rear of another vehicle 220 can thus be captured.

It is also possible to use the traffic monitoring device 100 in intersection areas of two roads, as in Fig. 18 shown. Various installation locations are available here. For example, traffic monitoring devices 100, 100' are arranged on the central reservation 250. A traffic monitoring device 100'' is also arranged on the shoulder 250 as an example. The traffic monitoring device 100'' on the shoulder 250 is shown here as an example in a special embodiment with three image recording devices 8,8',8"' and the respective detection devices (not shown). The orientation of the sides 1,2,3,4,5,6 of the hexagonal cross section HQ is arranged such that both the lane 240 in east-west orientation and the lane in north-south orientation are arranged at a flat angle to the image recording direction B,B',B",B‴.

In one embodiment, the housing 110 of the traffic monitoring device 100 has a hexagonal cross-section HQ over the entire vertical axis Z of the traffic monitoring device 100, as in the embodiments of the Fig. 6 and 7 The housing 110 with the hexagonal cross section HQ stands on the ground.

In some cases, due to certain legislation, it is necessary that when monitoring a vehicle 220 both the rear and the front are largely are recorded simultaneously by one image recording device each. However, only one recording device 9 is required to record the speed v of the vehicle 220. Fig. 14 shows a schematic view of a road 200 with a traffic monitoring device 100 from Fig. 11 in a top view of the XY plane. The traffic monitoring device is set up to detect the front of the vehicle 220 with the image recording device 7 through the transparent area 8. The speed v of the vehicle can be detected by the detection device 9 of the traffic monitoring device 100. The traffic monitoring device 100 is arranged on the hard shoulder 250 or the central reservation 250. An additional device 300 is arranged at a distance from the traffic monitoring device 100 in the direction of travel of the lane 240. The additional device 300 is arranged on the hard shoulder 250 or the central reservation 250. The additional device 300 has at least one transparent area 8' and at least one image recording device 7'. The additional device 300 can be designed in a housing form analogous to the traffic monitoring device 100. Other housing forms are also conceivable for the additional device 300. The rear of the vehicle 220 can be captured by the image capture device 7' of the additional device 300. The image capture device 7' of the additional device 300 can advantageously be triggered by a signal from the traffic monitoring device 100. The signal can be transmitted via a cable or wirelessly.

In a further embodiment, the traffic monitoring device 100 has a support element 130. The housing with the hexagonal cross section HQ is arranged along the vertical axis Z above the support element 130. The traffic monitoring system 100 is arranged on a base. The support element is arranged between the base and the hexagonal housing. A support element is, for example, a tripod 130, a cuboid-shaped base 130, a column-shaped base, a cylindrical base, or another shaped support element 130. The Fig. 15 shows an embodiment of a traffic monitoring device 100, for example a support element 130 in the form of a tripod 130. And the Fig. 16 Figure 15 shows, for example, a support element 130 in the form of a tripod 130.

In a particular embodiment of a traffic monitoring device 100, the support element 130 is movable on the ground. The support element 130 is designed, for example, in the form of a trailer 130 for motor vehicles, as in Fig. 17 shown.

The embodiments of a traffic monitoring device 100 disclosed in this document can of course be combined with one another in terms of their properties. In particular, each traffic monitoring device 100 with a hexagonal cross section HQ is designed to have between one and four image capture devices 7,7',7",7‴ and associated transparent areas 8,8',8",8‴, which are located in different sides 1,2,3,4,5,6 of the housing. This document also explicitly includes embodiments which have a combination of the features of the embodiments described herein.

list of reference symbols

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• 5th page
• 6 pages
• 7 , 7', 7", 7‴ image pickup device
• 8 , 8' ,8" ,8‴ Transparent area
• 9 , 9', 9", 9‴ detection device
• 10 , 10', 10'', 10''' detection range
• 11 wall
• 12 walls
• 13 walls
• 14 walls
• 15 walls
• 16 walls
• 31 angles
• 32 angles
• 33 angles
• 34 angles
• 35 angles
• 36 angles
• 100 , 100', 100''' traffic monitoring device
• 110 housings
• 120 interior, room
• 130 Support element, tripod, base
• 200 Street
• 210 , 210', 210" ,210‴ sub-area
• 220 , 220', 220", 220‴ object, vehicle
• 230 surface
• 240 , 240', 240", 240‴ lane
• 250 shoulders, central reservation
• 300 additional equipment
• B , B', B", B‴ image pickup direction
• HQ Hexagonal cross-section
• Q cross-section
• V , V', V", V‴ speed
• W ,W',W",W‴ detection beam
• X longitudinal axis
• XY Horizontal Plane
• Y cross axis
• Z Vertical Axis

Claims (15)

Traffic monitoring device (100) with a housing (110) for monitoring at least one partial area (210) of a road (200); wherein the housing (110) has at least one interior space (120); wherein at least one image recording device (7) is arranged in the interior space (120); wherein the housing (110) has at least one transparent area (8) for each image recording device (7); wherein the housing (110) is designed at least partially along a largely vertical axis (Z); wherein the image recording device (7) is arranged in the housing (110) behind the transparent area (8) in such a way that the at least one partial area (210) of the road (200) can be detected by means of the image recording device (7); wherein a largely horizontal plane (XY) is perpendicular to the vertical axis (Z); characterized in that the housing (110) has a hexagonal cross-section (HQ) at least in the largely horizontal plane (XY). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the hexagonal cross-section (HQ) has a first side (1), a second side (2), a third side (3), a fourth side (4), a fifth side (5), and a sixth side (6); that two sides (1,4,3,5,3,6) are largely parallel. Traffic monitoring device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the first side (1) lies in the plane of a first wall (11); that the second (2) side lies in the plane of a second wall (12); that the third side (3) lies in the plane of a third wall (13); that the fourth side (4) lies in the plane of a fourth wall (14); that the fifth side (5) lies in the plane of a fifth wall (15); that the sixth side (6) lies in the plane of a sixth wall (16); and that the first wall (11) and the second wall (12) and the third wall (13) and the fourth wall (14) and the fifth wall (15) and the sixth wall (16) are at least partially parallel to the vertical axis (Z). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the first wall (11) is designed to be completely opaque; that the fourth wall (14) is designed to be completely opaque; and that the first side (1) is aligned largely parallel to the fourth side (4). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that the housing (110) has between one and four transparent areas (8,8',8",8‴); that an image recording device (7,7',7",7‴) is arranged in the interior (120) for each transparent area (8,8',8",8‴); that each of the image recording devices (7,7',7",7‴) is arranged in the housing (110) behind the respective transparent area (8,8',8",8‴) in such a way that each image recording device (7,7',7",7‴) is set up to record a partial area (210,210',210",210‴) of the road (200); and that one transparent area (8,8',8",8‴) is arranged in each of the second walls (12) or third wall (13) or fifth wall (15) or sixth wall (16). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the transparent region (8,8',8",8‴) is arranged parallel to the plane of the wall (12,13,15,16); and that the distance (82) of the transparent region (8,8',8",8‴) from the plane of the wall (12,13,15,16) is between -50 mm and 50 mm. Traffic monitoring device (200) according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that at least one detection device (9,9',9",9‴) is arranged in the housing (110) for each image recording device (7,7',7'',7'''); that the detection device (9,9',9",9‴) is set up to determine a speed (V,V',V",V‴) of a vehicle (220,220',220",220‴) in the respective partial area (210,210',210",210‴) of the road (200). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the housing (110) has a detection range (10,10',10",10") for each detection device (9,9',9",9"); that the detection device (9,9',9",9") is designed to detect a vehicle with at least one detection beam (W,W',W",W"), for example electromagnetic radiation, such as radar beams, optical radiation, infrared radiation, ultraviolet radiation, or sound waves in the audible range, infrasound or ultrasound; and that the detection range (10,10',10",10‴) is transparent to the detection beam (W,W',W",W‴). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that each image recording device (7,7',7ʺʺ,7‴) has an image recording direction (B,B',B",B‴); which image recording direction (B,B',B",B‴) in the horizontal plane (XY) of the hexagonal cross-section (HQ) is largely perpendicular to the respective transparent region (8,8', 8'', 8'''). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the hexagonal cross-section (HQ) has a first angle (31), a second angle (32), a third angle (33), a fourth angle (34), a fifth angle (35) and a sixth angle (36); that the second side (2) and the third side (3) form the second angle (32); that the fifth side (5) and the sixth side (6) form the fifth angle (35); that a longitudinal axis (X) bisects the second angle (32); whereby the second angle (32) determines the orientation of the second side (2) to the longitudinal axis (X), whereby the second angle (32) determines the orientation of the third side (3) to the longitudinal axis (X); and that the longitudinal axis (X) bisects the fifth angle (35); whereby the fifth angle (35) determines the orientation of the sixth side (4) to the longitudinal axis (X), whereby the fifth angle (35) determines the orientation of the fifth side (5) to the longitudinal axis (X). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that the second angle (32) and the fifth angle (35) have the same size. Traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the hexagonal cross-section (HQ) is designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis (X). Traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the horizontal plane (XY) is aligned largely parallel to a surface (230) of the road (200), and that the hexagonal cross-section (HQ) is a uniform hexagon. Arrangement of a traffic monitoring device (100) according to one of claims 10 to 12 with respect to a road (200), characterized in that the road (200) has at least one lane (240, 240', 240'', 240'''); that the lane (240, 240', 240'', 240''') runs largely straight and that the first side (1) is arranged largely parallel to the lane (240, 240', 240", 240‴); or that the lane (240, 240', 240", 240‴) describes a curve and that the first side (1) is aligned tangentially to the lane (240, 240', 240", 240‴). Arrangement of a traffic monitoring device (100) according to claim 14, characterized in that by adjusting the second angle (32) the orientation of the first side (1) and the second side (2) with respect to the road (200) is determined in such a way; and that the image recording device (7,7',7",7‴) can be aligned with the road (200).

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